Why am I back after such a hiatus? I guess that is better answered by why I quit writing. First and foremost, I think I just ran out of things to say. I've been happy, but not really inspired to write. I still share pics and what have you on Facebook, but I've just not felt the need to really work things out as one does in a blog. And as far as race/event reports, they haven't been frequent enough or again, I just wasn't inspired enough to go on and on about them,
So why AM I writing now? Well, it's time to get back to Patti from 2012. The one who had her eating disorder under control. You see, I've NEVER slacked in the gym since 2011, no sir/madam. However for the past year (especially) I've just lost my sense of control and ownership of my behavior toward food. As a result, I am literally the same weight I was 5 years ago when I had the hysterectomy. (give or take a pound or two) Let's be fair though, my body composition isn't *quite* the same. If I was to measure it, I'd expect to find my body fat % to be lower now, versus then. Which one would expect comparing my sedentary lifestyle of pre 2011 to 3 years of crossfit followed by 7 months of dedicated powerlifting. I'm way, way, WAY stronger than I was 5 years ago. But there's no getting around the fact that I'm fat again. Strong, but still fat.
Me, the past 9 months.
Annnnd much like before, it takes some kind of rock bottom event (or events) to kick my ass in gear. And no it wasn't the-getting-to-the-top-of-a-water-slide-line-and-being-told-I-was-too-big-to-go-down-it-and-having-to-walk-all-the-way-back-down-across-the-flow-of-traffic-feeling-like-the-biggest-loser-of-all-the-losers. No, that sucked, but that didn't do it. However, I tweaked my knee a couple months ago doing lunges (LUNGES OF ALL THINGS!) and long story short I hadn't been able to squat for a couple months, which is like, what I *DO* now. And THAT, ladies and gentleman, is when I said enough is enough. (again)
So now what? Do I slash calories and just do cardio, which worked in that past? Well, I could. But I don't want to give up the muscle I've gained. In fact, I am super excited about being able to actually SEE that muscle once I get a layer or 10 of fat off of them. So the quick fix isn't going to work, not when I still want to work toward my powerlifting goals. Slow and steady wins the race, right? RIGHT??!!
That said, I need to get my habits in order, not only have I been eating ALL THE THINGS but I've been smoking (especially on the weekends) and it's just stupid. We've heard before about the whole "3 Weeks To Make Something A Habit" thing. Today is Day One. I'm giving myself three weeks to get myself back into the habit of moderating ALL the things. A beer or two IF they fit into my macros on the weekends, but zero smoking of course and tracking my food everyday. I like the "If It Fits Your Macros" style of eating as it seems most supportive of my lifting. I'll be shooting for the following every day: 1700 calories, 128 carbs, 57 fat, 170 protein. However, when I have a rest day or don't workout as intensely, I'll adjust those numbers down accordingly.
The charm of IIFYM of course, is that though it encourages clean eating, it doesn't tell you WHAT to eat. Hence the name. It's not at all unlike Weight Watchers (just more of your own math) which in the past, has always been the only "diet" that has really worked for me. Too many restrictions and I either binge, or just immediately gain back the weight when I start to "loosen up" the restrictions. IIFYM, and WW, IMO are more lifestyles. And it's nice that it is favored by many in the strength sports, so there is a lot of info out there regarding it that pertains to my fitness goals as well.
That said, see you tomorrow.....I need to go log some stuff on My Fitness Pal.
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